Mock crash sends message to students before prom

East Henderson High students helped the Henderson County Sheriff's Office Traffic Team as they held a mock crash scene at the school Tuesday before the school's prom Friday.

Patrick Sullivan/Times-News

By Nancy TankerTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 10:34 p.m.

The Henderson County Sheriff's Office's Traffic Enforcement Team set up a mock car crash Tuesday at East Henderson High School to send a message about safety and the consequences of drunk driving just days before the school's prom.

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The demonstration on the football field centered around a badly damaged car containing a driver, senior Devin Smith, and three trapped passengers, sophomore Corrie Stephenson, senior Stuart Dunlap and senior Geoffrey Jenson, all "bleeding" profusely from their injuries.

A second car came upon the scene, and three friends of the injured jumped out and attempted to help. The friends were played by seniors Mason Zimmer, Miranda Allison and Jessica Staton.

The driver of the wrecked car was pulled through the driver's-side window, falling to the ground, while the injured passengers remained stuck in the car.

Blue Ridge Fire & Rescue arrived, along with several sheriff's office squad cars that raced to the scene. Soon the sound of Mission Hospital's air ambulance helicopter, MAMA, could be heard overhead.

The helicopter landed as officers arrested the wrecked car's driver on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Meanwhile, rescue personnel used the Jaws of Life to remove the car's roof to extricate the injured passengers. One was transferred to an ambulance, another put aboard MAMA and a third was literally carried away in a body bag.

The demonstration affected students on many levels. Patrick Smith, a junior, said his mother was killed by a drunk driver five years ago, on his sister's birthday.

"Just like my momma dying, it makes you think about how stupid people can be when they're drunk driving," he said. The boy arrested in the demonstration "deserved what he got," Smith added.

Senior Morgan Noble said the demonstration was dramatic and "should open the eyes of some of the people who want to go party after the prom, then try to drive home."

"It was way more real than watching a video or presentation," said senior Micah Baldwin, who added that the event "brought a really cool realness" to how badly people can be injured when driving while impaired.

The lesson in the end was clear: "Definitely don't drink and drive. Just don't take the chance," he said.

East Principal Matthew Gruebmeyer noted that "every year we do this event, a kid will come up to me and say, ‘Thanks for giving me an excuse to change my (prom) plans.' We are getting them to think more about the decisions they are going to make. Putting yourself at risk is one thing; putting others at risk is another thing."

Master Deputy Dave Hensley said that since the department has been conducting the mock crashes — for more than six years — there have been no prom-related car crashes or fatalities in the county.

"And we plan to keep it that way by sending the message about what can happen when someone's drunk driving or texting when driving," he said. "We want to give them a dose of reality."

By email a day before the event, Maj. Frank Stout gave additional advice to students celebrating Friday.

"Please do not drink and drive, text and drive or be distracted by friends riding in the vehicle with you," he said "Drinking and driving is dangerous and can be deadly. It is illegal to possess alcohol under 21 and illegal to have someone else purchase the alcohol for you.

"Texting and driving is illegal and can have deadly consequences as well. This can also lead to distracted driving if you are trying to find your phone, answer it or respond to a text or Facebook post."

Stout added that the use of prescription drugs and synthetic substances such as Bizzarro, Spice or bath salts also is illegal and "can be very dangerous."

"Let (prom) evening be memorable for all the right reasons," he said. "Don't let the evening be remembered by others that you or a friend/friends were seriously injured or killed by using poor judgment or making a bad decision based upon peer pressure.

"A poor decision or momentary lapse in judgment can have lasting consequences. A student may not think about the long-term effect of ending up with a criminal record on prom night, but it will follow you as you head into college, the workforce and throughout life."

<p>The Henderson County Sheriff's Office's Traffic Enforcement Team set up a mock car crash Tuesday at East Henderson High School to send a message about safety and the consequences of drunk driving just days before the school's prom. </p><p>The demonstration on the football field centered around a badly damaged car containing a driver, senior Devin Smith, and three trapped passengers, sophomore Corrie Stephenson, senior Stuart Dunlap and senior Geoffrey Jenson, all "bleeding" profusely from their injuries. </p><p>A second car came upon the scene, and three friends of the injured jumped out and attempted to help. The friends were played by seniors Mason Zimmer, Miranda Allison and Jessica Staton. </p><p>The driver of the wrecked car was pulled through the driver's-side window, falling to the ground, while the injured passengers remained stuck in the car. </p><p>Blue Ridge Fire & Rescue arrived, along with several sheriff's office squad cars that raced to the scene. Soon the sound of Mission Hospital's air ambulance helicopter, MAMA, could be heard overhead. </p><p>The helicopter landed as officers arrested the wrecked car's driver on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Meanwhile, rescue personnel used the Jaws of Life to remove the car's roof to extricate the injured passengers. One was transferred to an ambulance, another put aboard MAMA and a third was literally carried away in a body bag. </p><p>The demonstration affected students on many levels. Patrick Smith, a junior, said his mother was killed by a drunk driver five years ago, on his sister's birthday. </p><p>"Just like my momma dying, it makes you think about how stupid people can be when they're drunk driving," he said. The boy arrested in the demonstration "deserved what he got," Smith added. </p><p>Senior Morgan Noble said the demonstration was dramatic and "should open the eyes of some of the people who want to go party after the prom, then try to drive home." </p><p>"It was way more real than watching a video or presentation," said senior Micah Baldwin, who added that the event "brought a really cool realness" to how badly people can be injured when driving while impaired. </p><p>The lesson in the end was clear: "Definitely don't drink and drive. Just don't take the chance," he said. </p><p>East Principal Matthew Gruebmeyer noted that "every year we do this event, a kid will come up to me and say, 'Thanks for giving me an excuse to change my (prom) plans.' We are getting them to think more about the decisions they are going to make. Putting yourself at risk is one thing; putting others at risk is another thing." </p><p>Master Deputy Dave Hensley said that since the department has been conducting the mock crashes — for more than six years — there have been no prom-related car crashes or fatalities in the county. </p><p>"And we plan to keep it that way by sending the message about what can happen when someone's drunk driving or texting when driving," he said. "We want to give them a dose of reality."</p><p>By email a day before the event, Maj. Frank Stout gave additional advice to students celebrating Friday. </p><p>"Please do not drink and drive, text and drive or be distracted by friends riding in the vehicle with you," he said "Drinking and driving is dangerous and can be deadly. It is illegal to possess alcohol under 21 and illegal to have someone else purchase the alcohol for you. </p><p>"Texting and driving is illegal and can have deadly consequences as well. This can also lead to distracted driving if you are trying to find your phone, answer it or respond to a text or Facebook post." </p><p>Stout added that the use of prescription drugs and synthetic substances such as Bizzarro, Spice or bath salts also is illegal and "can be very dangerous."</p><p>"Let (prom) evening be memorable for all the right reasons," he said. "Don't let the evening be remembered by others that you or a friend/friends were seriously injured or killed by using poor judgment or making a bad decision based upon peer pressure. </p><p>"A poor decision or momentary lapse in judgment can have lasting consequences. A student may not think about the long-term effect of ending up with a criminal record on prom night, but it will follow you as you head into college, the workforce and throughout life."</p>